Kent State students and Student Media won multiple awards and scholarships this spring across a range of different awarding bodies. Winners and finalists were selected from a wide range of formats, media types and genres of writing. Students were honored by media associations, professional associations and press clubs.
Society of Professional Journalists Region 4 Mark of Excellence Competition
The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism every year with their Mark of Excellence awards. Region 4 consists of Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Kent State students won a number of awards this year including:
Radio News Reporting
Winner: Some parts of Rural Ohio lack maternal care. Can midwives help? — by Jenna Bal, Ideastream Public Media, Kent State University
Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: In the aftermath of the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment — by Grace Springer, Sophia Lucente, Collaborative News Lab, Kent State University
Best Ongoing Student Magazine
Winner: The Burr — by Staff, The Burr, Kent State University
Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: Akron nonprofit turns Metro bus into ‘Caravan of Love’ — by Alexandra Manthey, KentWired.com/TV2, Kent State University
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: TV2 News for Dec. 7, 2023 — by Staff, KentWired.com/TV2, Kent State University
Editorial/Opinion Writing
Finalist: Commentary — by Virginia Doherty, KentWired.com/The Kent Stater, Kent State University
Science/Environment/Climate Reporting
Finalist: ‘Pretty pest’: The invasive species taking over the Midwest — by Alton Northup, The Kent Stater/KentWired, Kent State University
Ohio Collegiate Newspaper and Website Competition
The Ohio News Media Association & Ohio News Media Foundation established the annual Ohio Collegiate Newspaper and Website Competition to recognize the achievements of Ohio’s college and university newspapers. This year Kent State Student Media were finalists for four awards, winning two.
- Best Website (Finalist): Kentwired.com
- In-Depth Reporting (Finalist): Izzy Schreck
- News Coverage (2nd Place): The Kent Stater, Staff of the Kent Stater
- Opinion Writing (2nd Place): Virginia Doherty
Akron Press Club Scholarships
This year was an exciting one for Kent State students for the Akron Press Club Scholarships. Of the 10 scholarships awarded, seven went to Kent State students, a testament to the quality of the education provided in MDJ and the quality of students that populate our classrooms and newsrooms.
John S. Knight Scholarship
Named for former the editor of the Akron Beacon Journal, John S. Knight, each of these scholarships are for $5,000 and went to four Kent State students.
- Mariah Alanskas
- Alton Northup
- Tanner Poe
- Isabella Schreck
Russ Pry Scholarship
The Press Club also awards the Russ Pry scholarship in honor of the Summit County executive who supported the Press Club and who died in 2016.The Russ Pry scholar is Kent State student Aden Graves.
Louis Gitsin Thong Scholarship
Through the generosity of Aileen Thong, a retired U.S. Army physician, in tribute to her father, the late Louis Gitsin Thong, the Akron Press Club awarded two more scholarships. The Thong scholars are:
- Destiny Tores
- Chloe Wilson-Henline
Elizabeth Bartz Scholarship
Made possible by Elizabeth Bartz, president and chief executive of State and Federal Communications. The Bartz scholar is Macy Rosen.